Marianna, AR – The Arkansas State Police announced Friday that human remains found nearly five decades ago in Lee County have been identified as those of Charles Howard Wallace, who went missing in the 1970s.
According to Arkansas State Police, the remains were discovered on Jan. 13, 1977, in a farm field near U.S. Highway 79, just west of Marianna. Initial examinations by the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory were unable to determine the individual’s identity, and the case remained unsolved for decades.
In March 2024, the agency’s Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation and submitted the remains to Othram Labs, a Texas-based forensic laboratory specializing in advanced DNA analysis and genetic genealogy. On June 6, 2025, Othram reported a tentative identification, later confirmed in September through DNA testing from living relatives in Tennessee.
Investigators determined that Wallace, then 21, was last in contact with his family during the fall of 1974 in Memphis, Tennessee. Authorities said he was in his late teens at the time and staying at a halfway house in downtown Memphis. The cause and manner of his death remain undetermined.
“This identification provides long-overdue answers for the family and highlights the commitment of Arkansas State Police to ensuring no case is forgotten,” Colonel Mike Hagar said in a statement. “We are grateful for the collaboration of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory and Othram Labs in moving this decades-old case forward.”
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wallace’s death and are asking anyone with information to contact the ASP Cold Case Unit at ColdCase@asp.arkansas.gov.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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